Commission hears Main Street, CVB year‑end reports and approves $36,000 for facade grant program

City staff presented Newton’s Main Street and Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) annual reports and the commission approved $36,000 to continue the downtown facade improvement grant program.

Jen Lehman, Main Street/CVB staff, told the commission the printed Main Street annual report is based on a 27‑business survey and summarized downtown assets and recent activity. Lehman said the 27 respondents reported 232 employees and that the downtown district contains 213 parcels and about 195 first‑floor storefronts. The survey sample showed an 18% storefront vacancy rate and indicated 33 retail storefronts and eight dining venues within the district. Lehman said the Main Street team estimated about 18,000 event attendees downtown during 2024 and reported roughly $237,000 in combined public and private reinvestment last year, plus four new businesses and nearly $173,000 in private investment. She also described marketing and engagement work by the CVB, including the community events calendar and state “Sunflower Summer” museum participation.

The commission then considered funding for the facade improvement grant program. Lehman summarized last year’s program: a $30,000 allocation that supported up to $3,000 per applicant at 50% reimbursement, and 12 participating business projects that exhausted the $30,000 allocation. She said five projects are complete and seven remain in progress, with four already started; remaining projects must finish by June 2025 to qualify for reimbursement.

City staff and commissioners clarified the funding source. A city staff member said the $30,000 used last year came from the city’s housing fund and that roughly $36,300 remained available in that account; staff proposed using the remainder to support this year’s facade grants and moving a small remainder into the community development revitalization account. The commission approved a resolution (Resolution No. 81352, as printed in meeting materials) authorizing $36,000 for the 2025 facade improvement grant program. A motion to approve the resolution was made, seconded and carried by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was read into the record.

Lehman said the proposed $36,000 would potentially support up to 13 facade improvement reimbursements at the same 50% matching structure. She noted the program has a wait list of six applicants already and that previous projects commonly used private funds in addition to the city reimbursement.

The Main Street/CVB team also reported on CVB marketing grants, digital billboard placements, and the Choose Newton event calendar (more than 54,000 views to the Choose Newton site in the prior year). Lehman said two museums participated in the state Sunflower Summer program and that the CVB runs a photo contest and produces promotional brochures for bridal and tourism markets.

The commission thanked staff for the reports and approved the facade funding request. Staff said printed copies of the Main Street annual report will be available downtown and online.